Opinion Today: What Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Trump all understand

Finding the line between celebrity and politician. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP4RIAWh0dHBzOi8vbWVzc2FnaW5nLWN1c3RvbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVycy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9keW5hbWljL3JlbmRlcj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDMzMCZmaXJzdF9zZW5kPTAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE4ODk2JmlzVmlld0luQnJvd3Nlcj10cnVlJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcGFpZF9yZWdpPTAmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MjE3OSZ0ZT0xJnVyaT1ueXQlM0ElMkYlMkZuZXdzbGV0dGVyJTJGZDI3YjYzYzYtYTBhZC01OTU5LWI5OWEtYTAyNjMxZjBhN2FjJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZgXt_gdm-ukxJVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0SxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMzMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExODg5NiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjIxNzkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYF7f4HZvrpMSVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~)[Continue reading the main story](#) [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0SYaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTYyMTM5JmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDI0MDMzMCZ0ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAzMzBXA255dEIKZgXt_gdm-ukxJVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [Opinion Today](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VjdGlvbi9vcGluaW9uP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMzMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExODg5NiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjIxNzkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYF7f4HZvrpMSVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) March 30, 2024 [A photo illustration of a set of hands covering an image of Beyoncé wearing a silver cowboy hat. The image is as if printed in a newspaper, with one edge folded over, showing print on the other side.] Illustration by The New York Times; photograph by Amir Hamja/The New York Times [Sophia Alvarez Boyd headshot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0THaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvc29waGlhLWFsdmFyZXotYm95ZD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDMzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTg4OTYmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYyMTc5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmBe3-B2b66TElUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~)[Phoebe Lett headshot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0S_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvcGhvZWJlLWxldHQ_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAzMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE4ODk2Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MjE3OSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZgXt_gdm-ukxJVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) By [Sophia Alvarez Boyd](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0THaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvc29waGlhLWFsdmFyZXotYm95ZD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDMzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTg4OTYmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYyMTc5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmBe3-B2b66TElUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) and [Phoebe Lett](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0S_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvcGhvZWJlLWxldHQ_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAzMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE4ODk2Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MjE3OSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZgXt_gdm-ukxJVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) As millennials, we grew up loving Beyoncé and Taylor Swift — in an era when being a fan didn’t quite brand you a fanatic the way it does today. While both stars rose to fame singing about matters of the heart, neither has escaped politics. Both have, in select moments, used their positions and influence to amplify and engage in political messages. Those choices not only elevated the stakes of their careers but also helped transform their fandoms into something more akin to tribes (speaking as original members of the Swifties and the Beyhive, respectively). “Tribes might be the exact right way to think about it,” says Tressie McMillan Cottom on this week’s episode of “Matter of Opinion.” Tressie joined the hosts Ross Douthat, Lydia Polgreen and Michelle Cottle to debate the weird and often messy situationship between America’s celebrities and politicians. “They’re fandoms, but they are also consumer groups. And if you’re a politician right now, you’re thirsty for both of those,” Tressie says. “You want a rabid, devoted, emotionally driven base of people, and that’s why politicians look to celebrities during election seasons.” It’s a phenomenon Donald Trump understands all too well. Both [Beyoncé](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0T2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbGl2ZS8yMDI0LzAzLzI2L29waW5pb24vdGhlcG9pbnQvYmV5b25jZS1jb3dib3ktY2FydGVyP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMzMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExODg5NiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjIxNzkmc21pZD11cmwtc2hhcmUmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYF7f4HZvrpMSVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) and Swift have new albums coming out just weeks apart. And their fans will no doubt spend hours decoding the messages behind the catchy lyrics. But in this critical election year, one larger question will hang over these stars and their fandoms: Will they move their legions of worshipers to get out the vote? Read a condensed and edited excerpt from the conversation below, and listen to the full episode [here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMy8yOS9vcGluaW9uL2JleW9uY2UtdGF5bG9yLXN3aWZ0LWNlbGVicml0eS1wb2xpdGljcy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMzMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExODg5NiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjIxNzkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYF7f4HZvrpMSVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~). Tressie McMillan Cottom: One of the things that’s remarkable about Beyoncé and Taylor Swift is that they are über-celebrities in an era of microcelebrities, a microcelebrity being someone who is famous with a niche population. So some of Taylor Swift’s and Beyoncé’s power is about the fact that they are universally known in this moment of microcelebrity. But we keep talking about this as if it does matter. I talked to some political scientists when everybody was kind of going gaga about “Taylor Swift could swing the election if she could get everybody to register to vote,” and that’s not how this works. Michelle Cottle: What’s the difference substantively from, say, Taylor Swift endorsing a particular politician versus Taylor Swift just telling everybody it is very important that you go register to vote? Tressie: Those are two distinct things. I would argue that’s more of a consciousness-raising, to use the old feminist term. That’s not the same as having the infrastructure to actually get out and vote. So even when we’re talking about how much celebrities matter, they may matter more for attention than they do for anything we consider, like, electoral politics. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0SXaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NTk3ODUmbGk9VFkmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPVRZXzIwMjQwMzMwJnRlPTEmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDMzMFcDbnl0QgpmBe3-B2b66TElUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) Lydia Polgreen: There was a survey in 2019 by Hill-HarrisX that said that 65 percent of respondents said political endorsements from Hollywood celebrities have no bearing on their voting decisions. Most surprising, it said that 24 percent said that celebrity endorsements would make them less likely to vote for the celebrity’s preferred candidate. Ross Douthat: There’s an interesting dynamic where I think both Beyoncé and Taylor Swift create a sense that they could have a political impact precisely because they aren’t microcelebrities, but they have a little bit of that microcelebrity identification from their fan bases. At least I see with Swift, if the celebrity does something that the fan doesn’t immediately naturally like, they become sort of disappointed with the celebrity, right? Tressie: I think some of that is because we think that celebrities move their fan base when in fact, it’s the fans that move celebrities. LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE [Matter of Opinion Finding the Line Between Celebrity and Politician With Tressie McMillan Cottom What Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Donald Trump all understand.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMy8yOS9vcGluaW9uL2JleW9uY2UtdGF5bG9yLXN3aWZ0LWNlbGVicml0eS1wb2xpdGljcy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMzMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExODg5NiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjIxNzkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYF7f4HZvrpMSVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [play button] 36 MIN LISTEN [Article Image](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMy8yOS9vcGluaW9uL2JleW9uY2UtdGF5bG9yLXN3aWZ0LWNlbGVicml0eS1wb2xpdGljcy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMzMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExODg5NiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjIxNzkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYF7f4HZvrpMSVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0SYaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjAxODEyJmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDI0MDMzMCZ0ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAzMzBXA255dEIKZgXt_gdm-ukxJVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) THE WEEK IN BIG IDEAS ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMy8yNy9vcGluaW9uL3NhdC1hY3QtY29sbGVnZS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMzMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExODg5NiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjIxNzkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYF7f4HZvrpMSVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~ [An illustration of a man lying underneath a giant SAT prep book. The book makes a tent over him. He is smiling.] Matija Medved Guest Essay How the SAT Changed My Life For a disadvantaged kid like me, the SAT was the one shot I had to prove my potential. By Emi Nietfeld ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0ToaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMy8yNS9vcGluaW9uL2thdGUtbWlkZGxldG9uLWNhbmNlci1kaWFnbm9zaXMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDMzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTg4OTYmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYyMTc5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmBe3-B2b66TElUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~ [A diamond and gem encrusted crown, trimmed with ermine, is carried on a red velvet cushion.] Pool photo by Johnny Green Guest Essay Heavy Lies the Crown The fascination of the monarchy will always be the tension between a venerable institution and the human beings like Catherine who are trapped inside it. By Tina Brown ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMy8yNi9vcGluaW9uL2d1bnMtbWFzcy1zaG9vdGluZ3MuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDMzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTg4OTYmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYyMTc5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmBe3-B2b66TElUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~ [A collage showing a diagram of a handgun and photo of a hand resting on someone’s shoulder. ] Illustration by Shoshana Schultz/The New York Times Guest Essay Ethan Crumbley’s Parents Were Just Part of a Much Bigger Problem The messages that kids get about firearms have changed for the worse. By Elizabeth Spiers ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMy8yNy9vcGluaW9uL21lLXRvby1zZXh1YWwtbW9yYWxpdHkuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDMzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTg4OTYmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYyMTc5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmBe3-B2b66TElUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~ [Lips with coral lipstick are pressed against the side of a person’s face. ] Elinor Carucci/Trunk Archive Ross Douthat The Quest for a New Vision of Sexual Morality Has liberalism found a coherent sexual ethics? By Ross Douthat [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0SYaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzI2NTM3JmxpPVRZJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1UWV8yMDI0MDMzMCZ0ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAzMzBXA255dEIKZgXt_gdm-ukxJVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. [Subscribe to The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TZaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc3Vic2NyaXB0aW9uL2FsbC1hY2Nlc3M_Y2FtcGFpZ25JZD04Skg3TCZjYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDMzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTg4OTYmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYyMTc5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmBe3-B2b66TElUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~)[.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TZaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc3Vic2NyaXB0aW9uL2FsbC1hY2Nlc3M_Y2FtcGFpZ25JZD04Skg3TCZjYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDMzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTg4OTYmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYyMTc5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmBe3-B2b66TElUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) Games Here are [today’s Mini Crossword](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TFaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY3Jvc3N3b3Jkcy9nYW1lL21pbmk_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAzMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE4ODk2Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MjE3OSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZgXt_gdm-ukxJVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD), [Wordle](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TIaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vZ2FtZXMvd29yZGxlL2luZGV4Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAzMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE4ODk2Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MjE3OSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZgXt_gdm-ukxJVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) and [Spelling Bee](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TFaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vcHV6emxlcy9zcGVsbGluZy1iZWU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAzMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE4ODk2Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MjE3OSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZgXt_gdm-ukxJVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD). If you’re in the mood to play more, find [all our games here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0S2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vZ2FtZXM_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAzMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE4ODk2Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MjE3OSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZgXt_gdm-ukxJVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD). Forward this newsletter to friends to share ideas and perspectives that will help inform their lives. They can [sign up here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TMaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbmV3c2xldHRlcnMvb3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheW5sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMzMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExODg5NiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjIxNzkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYF7f4HZvrpMSVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~). Do you have feedback? Email us at [opiniontoday@nytimes.com](mailto:opiniontoday@nytimes.com?subject=Opinion%20Today%20Newsletter%20Feedback). If you have questions about your Times account, delivery problems or other issues, visit our [Help Page](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly9oZWxwLm55dGltZXMuY29tL2hjL2VuLXVzL2FydGljbGVzLzM2MDAwMTQ4ODI2Ni1OZXdzbGV0dGVycz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDMzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTg4OTYmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYyMTc5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmBe3-B2b66TElUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) or [contact The Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TbaHR0cHM6Ly9oZWxwLm55dGltZXMuY29tL2hjL2VuLXVzL2FydGljbGVzLzExNTAxNTM4NTg4Ny1Db250YWN0LVVzP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMzMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExODg5NiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjIxNzkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYF7f4HZvrpMSVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~). [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) Need help? Review our [newsletter help page](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TcaHR0cHM6Ly9oZWxwLm55dGltZXMuY29tL2hjL2VuLXVzL2FydGljbGVzLzM2MDAwMTQ4ODI2Ni1OZXdzbGV0dGVycz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDMzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTg4OTYmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYyMTc5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmBe3-B2b66TElUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) or [contact us](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TbaHR0cHM6Ly9oZWxwLm55dGltZXMuY29tL2hjL2VuLXVzL2FydGljbGVzLzExNTAxNTM4NTg4Ny1Db250YWN0LXVzP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMzMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExODg5NiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjIxNzkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYF7f4HZvrpMSVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Opinion Today newsletter from The New York Times. To stop receiving Opinion Today, [unsubscribe](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbmV3c2xldHRlcnMvb3B0b3V0P2VtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMzMwJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcHJvZHVjdD1UWSZzZW5kX2lkPTE2MjE3OSZ0ZT0xJnRva2VuPTJjMTZjNzlmOWZiM2RmODY4OWUzOTAxOTlmNzg4NmQ0NjA4NjFhNzdiNzg3YjZkMGUxZWRjOGY4Y2VlN2IxNzhlMWNhMmNiMDFmYWMzOWQ5MjRkNjUwMzkxNDNjZDg3M1cDbnl0QgpmBe3-B2b66TElUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~). To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, [manage your email settings](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TLaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbmV3c2xldHRlcnMvbWFuYWdlP2VtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMzMwJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmc2VuZF9pZD0xNjIxNzkmdGU9MSZ0b2tlbj0wNjY2MjhmYzk2YzMwNTJjOTdkMjE4OWRlNjU0YjRlZWZmODViNWU0NWNmZGE2NTZkMjU1MWQyZTI2MmYyMTNjNWM2Y2MxZjMzMzk1OThlYjc2MTNmMmIwMWM2ZjVlYjdXA255dEIKZgXt_gdm-ukxJVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD). To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, [submit a request](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TOaHR0cHM6Ly90aGVhdGhsZXRpYy56ZW5kZXNrLmNvbS9oYy9lbi11cy9yZXF1ZXN0cy9uZXc_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAzMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE4ODk2Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MjE3OSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZgXt_gdm-ukxJVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD). [Subscribe to The Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TOaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc3Vic2NyaXB0aW9uP2NhbXBhaWduSWQ9OVJYNzgmY2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAzMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE4ODk2Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MjE3OSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZgXt_gdm-ukxJVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD)[Get The New York Times app](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TLaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VydmljZXMvbW9iaWxlL2luZGV4Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAzMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE4ODk2Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MjE3OSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZgXt_gdm-ukxJVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) Connect with us on: [facebook](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0S9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL255dG9waW5pb24vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMzMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExODg5NiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjIxNzkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYF7f4HZvrpMSVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [twitter](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0S3aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9ueXRvcGluaW9uP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMzMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExODg5NiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjIxNzkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYF7f4HZvrpMSVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [instagram](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0S-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9ueXRvcGluaW9uLz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDMzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTg4OTYmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYyMTc5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmBe3-B2b66TElUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [Change Your Email](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TFaHR0cHM6Ly9teWFjY291bnQubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbWVtL2VtYWlsLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAzMzAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE4ODk2Jm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MjE3OSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZgXt_gdm-ukxJVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD)[Privacy Policy](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY29udGVudC9oZWxwL3JpZ2h0cy9wcml2YWN5L3BvbGljeS9wcml2YWN5LXBvbGljeS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM5JmVtYz1lZGl0X3R5XzIwMjQwMzMwJmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExODg5NiZubD1vcGluaW9uLXRvZGF5JnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjIxNzkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYF7f4HZvrpMSVSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~)[Contact Us](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TNaHR0cHM6Ly9teWFjY291bnQubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbWVtYmVyY2VudGVyL2hlbHAuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDMzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTg4OTYmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYyMTc5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmBe3-B2b66TElUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~)[California Notices](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0TKaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vcHJpdmFjeS9jYWxpZm9ybmlhLW5vdGljZT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zOSZlbWM9ZWRpdF90eV8yMDI0MDMzMCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTg4OTYmbmw9b3Bpbmlvbi10b2RheSZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYyMTc5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmBe3-B2b66TElUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [LiveIntent Logo](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0RQaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGl2ZWludGVudC5jb20vcG93ZXJlZC1ieT90ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAzMzBXA255dEIKZgXt_gdm-ukxJVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD)[AdChoices Logo](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn6oPtP0RQaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGl2ZWludGVudC5jb20vYWQtY2hvaWNlcz90ZT0xJm5sPW9waW5pb24tdG9kYXkmZW1jPWVkaXRfdHlfMjAyNDAzMzBXA255dEIKZgXt_gdm-ukxJVIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018